Steps to Successful Composting
"Composting is great for the environment!"
Once you have your composting container, you will need to select a location
in your yard that is close to a water source, guarded from strong winds and
preferably in the shade. Next, you should stack up the dry material and
follow these 10 simple steps:
- Break or cut all the material into pieces that are no more than 4 inches
long. This exposes more surface so that microorganisms can break it
down.
- Dig out about two inches of dirt from the site in which you will be
placing your container and then add a small layer of branches to the dirt to
allow air to enter from the bottom.
- Place a mixture of approximately four parts dry material (rich in carbon)
for every one part of moist material (rich in nitrogen).
- Place alternating layers of moist and dry material. Also, add a
layer of dirt or manure every so often. If you are using food waste,
make sure it is buried under the other layers to avoid problems with flies.
- As you add your layers, water them to assure that the pile is completely
moist. Note that the interior should be moist, but not wet.
During heavy rains, cover the container with a plastic cover or lid.
- Once the container is filled, cover the pile with two inches of dirt.
- When decomposition starts, the pile will begin to heat up, with the
interior temperature reaching as much as 160 degrees Fahrenheit. This
high temperature is good because it kills the weeds and their seeds that may
be in the compost mixture.
- As the pile begins to cool back down so that it is the same temperature as
the outside air, reactivate it by permitting air to enter the
container. To do this, put the material into another container - or
use a pitchfork to mix up the contents. It may also be necessary to
add more water or plant material.
- Repeat these steps as necessary until the material is dark and smooth.
- To use the final compost material, sift the material with 1/2-inch sieve
to remove the semi-decomposed larger pieces. You can return these
pieces to the container to further decompose.
|
Symptom |
Problem |
Solution |
| The pile has a bad odor. |
It does not have sufficient air or it is too
moist. |
Open the pile to air and sun; add dry material. |
| The pile is dry and not reacting. |
It is possible that the material is not
sufficiently cut down; needs water. |
Add green material and reconstruct the pile,
carefully follow steps 1-4. |
| The compost is moist and has a sweet odor, but
is not heating up. |
The pile could be too small; needs nitrogen. |
Collect more material and combine it with
existing pile, manure or blood meal. Make a new pile at least
30"x30"x30". The pile functions best when at least 2
feet tall. |
| Many flies and ants. |
Food materials are too close to the surface. |
Cover the pile with at least 2 inches of dirt. |
Back
to Backyard Composting Program |
